Continuous Learning is one of the five Core Values at my company. It partners together with Disciplined Risk Taking. I used to think the latter was my favorite, but over time I’ve come to realize I appreciate and value them both equally.
One of the things that makes my role at the various companies I’ve worked at rather unique is that I don’t just help create the corporate culture - I’m the living, breathing embodiment of it. If I’m not embracing it, why would anyone else? So yes, I not only make the proverbial Kool-Aid I ask people to drink. I drink a whole lot of it myself. In essence, these Core Values aren’t just something we embrace at work. They are part of who I am in real life.
But these two values resonate the most. I love risk taking. The “disciplined” piece is the part I have to work on a bit. In my personal life, I am not overly disciplined; at work, I must exercise more thoughtfulness. I am playing with investor’s money; other people’s careers. But it is in those creative moments when I try out a new idea, or I “turn the puzzle upside down” and see the problem in a new way that leads me to a breakthrough moment that I am in my happiest place. Scratch that. It’s when I push others to reach past their OWN preconceived notions of what they are capable of that drives me the most. When I encourage people to take a risk and put themselves out there and it pays off, they are filled with a sense of pride. And I cheer them on.
But not all risks pay off. By taking a risk, you are bound to fail sometimes. As an adult, I am at peace with this notion. As a 10 year old, I would have been mortified to risk failure. Today, I realize my best lessons have come from the risks I’ve taken and where I have not been successful.
Don’t get me wrong. I love succeeding. But I love learning too. And over the years, I’ve gained wisdom with both the personal and professional risks that I’ve taken - especially those that didn’t end the way that I had intended.
I’ve learned leadership and parenting lessons in this regard as well. Having a team of people, many of whom are playing their roles for the first time as managers, is a great challenge. You have to have the faith in them that you’ve provided enough direction and guidance that they can make decisions and operate on their own - a risk in and of itself - and live with the consequences. And when they fall down, as is likely inevitable with someone new to a role, you help them dust themselves off and gain the learning. I try hard to reinforce it’s okay to fail, as long as they learn from the mistake. And then encourage them to try again with a new approach.
With my kids as well. They are experiencing everything for the first time. And I am a parent learning as I go. I have mental notes of what my parents did right - and not so right - with me. I use that as my playbook, and often push the boundaries; or take “disciplined risks” to see how far I can challenge the three of us. The three of us going to Italy this summer - disciplined risk. Attempting to manage being a single mom, with a big job and a big house so my kids don’t have to lose their stability? Disciplined risk. Continuous Learning all the way along? Absolutely.
I don’t have all the answers. When I was 23, a VP I worked with in my first job told me I was very “black and white.” I didn’t take a lot of risks, and I wanted to know the outcome before I tried something new. I don’t even recognize that person anymore. I live in the grey today. I love the grey. It allows for adaptability, creativity, and fluidity. And, or course, continuous learning.
I’m grateful to have learned that.
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